The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-04-28

never stopped ber.
''She il doing The work OF her Hesvenl
Father: He will protect her," was his an
sser 10 some few friendly renonstrsnce'
aud Tor long time Il seemed = II ID
maiden bore indeed q charm OF life
The fever bad run it's course when. !
September. . cool. vet week broke u
oppressive heat. and no new cascs occurre
sfterwsrd except one But. sh. that on
tore the doctors heart strings more thal
all the rest, for 10 her room. tosring Il
delirious agony. May called pitifuily 10
the father she did not recognis., the love-
absent from her. the friends gone frou
earth forever. Over and over again Oh.
lived The painful scenes Of the past fev
weeks, aud Mrs. Wells, her faithful nurse
knew she stood very near the grave fo
many long days.
May did not know when MSsk Psndls
ton was sent for and admitted to the dark
ened room for what they feared Was las
gaze at his promised wife; she did mo-
know when all the glorious proiusion Of
her golden hair was shorn of. 10 plscs
blsdders OF ice upon her head she knew
nothing for many. many days, till, waking
from long deep sleep. she saw. with
clear, comprehending eyes, her fathers
face bending over her.
She smiled, wondering where her voice
had gone, as she said, faintly:
"father!'
And he. softly kissing her eyelids ~
they closed again, only mnrmured:
"Thsnk God Ny child is spared to
me"
There was long conyalescence, aud af.
ter May could sit up and be dressed she
wondered where her mirror and hand
glass had vanished. Mrs. Wells muttered
something about ELIAS so careless. al
ways breaking something" and her father
called her "little vanity" when size asked
for them.
Even when Mark came, as he did sew
efa times, Mrs. Wells dressed her, tied
90 the lace cap that covered her bald head
and said 'sick folks weren't expected to
prink.
But one day. when she felt nearly well,
she stole down to the sitting.room alone,
and looked full over the mantelpiece.
She knew then why she had been so
tenderly guarded from the shock Of seeing
her own face. A border OF futed lace re-
placed her splendid hair, and uniform
ieep pink color was spread like mask
over her whole face, Her eyes we're sunk
IN, and strange unnatural ugliness
'eemed to have usurped her own beauty.
Covering her face she wept bitter, unavail.
ng tears.
She had been innocenty proud of bel
oyely face, and Mark had loved it. Even
u her first grief she thought most OF her
over, sobb,ng his name until. Is il in an
wer. he bent over her.
May" he said, "do no srieve SO. It's
'nly your beauty that is gone. The best
+ you is here, little May
She looked up, saying, "You had better
all me Mary Jane now; it suits my face
,etter.
Il want to call you Mrs. Pendleton ss
Don as possible" be said gaily.
Mark You would not marry such
ight?"
Just try mel Why, May" be added
ravely, ''you surely do not imagine this
hange in your face shakes my love. Sup.
'ose this fever had come after we we're
married., do you suppose l would have
un awsy?"
you would have been forced to submit
hen, ] suppose, she said very dolefully.
Now you can escape"
Thanks! Lam very we'll content with
~ present bondage, assure you.
And he proved the fact by urging an
Immediate wedding. The doctor smiled
hen May made some wandering com
rents, saying. II should be sorry to think
lark loved only your beauty. my dsugh
sr."
And the old man INDUCED in q most I'M.
snal cbnckIe, us il immensely amused by
,ms thoughts OF his own.
But the wedding was once more post
oned by Mark himself. His brother in
ew Orleans died suddenly and the widow
eeded some one to look after the property.
o the wiuter glided away. and April
peped. when dispatch announced Marks
oeedy return. aud preparations for the
eddipg were hastened in earnest.
The doctor met Mr.. Pendleton at the
alton and drove him to the house, assur
Ig him that the day they had previously
elected for the marriage. the 18th, would
DIV meet his engagement exactly.
"Bnt that is this evening"
Exactly ] viii postpone il il you
ish."
II? No indeed But you must give
o q chance to dress
"You have three hours. II is now five.
y irieods will assemble at eight You
e my guest.
Mag was Invisible while Mark ate his
Ipper, aud be was escorted to the spare
,om. where his trunk stood open and
'ery comfort was ready for bis toilet
Bnt tall. slender, white robed figure,
ith long. lace vail. waited, leaning 90
T. Trask's arm. when the bridegroom
As ready, aud slowly advanced with him
TO the drawing room filled With friends.
be solemn words we're spoken ths. made
ay his own, aud then the bridesmaids
'nily lifted the vail aud Mark saw his
Ife.
His May. fsirer than ever. stood before
IN, her delicate beauty perfectly restored.
pon hsr head. 10 place Of The heavy